Animal-muzzle.



Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

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BENJAMIN 1. MERRY, OF S'IRYKER, OHIO.

ANIMAL-NEUZZLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

Application filed May 6, 1911. Serial No. 625,418.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN P. MERRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Stryker, in the county of WVilliams and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Muzzles; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to animal muzzles especially designed as a weaner.The muzzle may also be used to advantage on cows for preventing themfrom milking themselves.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an improved muzzle ofthis kind which may be adjusted to fit animals having heads of differentsizes and shapes without impairing the usefulness of the device.

A further object is to provide adjustable means for securing the muzzleto the ears or horns of the animal.

Another object is to support the weaning device in front of the nose ofthe animal in such a manner that it may be moved upward to a limitedextent so as not to interfere with the proper feeding of the animal, butcannot be raised beyond the point where it will fall again by gravity.

Further objects will become apparent from the following description.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combinationsof parts hereinafter explained, illustrated in the accompanying drawing,and specified in the appended claims.

Tn the accompanying drawing: Figure l is a perspective view of themuzzle adjusted to a calfs head shown in dotted lines, a plate weanerbeing attached to the muzzle. Fig. 2 is an upper end view of the muzzleshowing how the upper adjusting rods of the ear or horn-engaging ringsare secured to the longitudinal bar. Fig. 3 is a detailed side view ofthe lower end of the longitudinal bar showing the plate weaner in itsfarthest raised position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 1 designates thelongitudinal bar or strip which is made in two sections, one having ascrew-threaded stud or bolt 2 at one end, and the other having a seriesof perforations 3 adapted to en gage said stud for the purpose ofvarying the length of said bar to adjust it to animals heads ofdifferent sizes. The two parts of the longitudinal bar are securedtogether by a nut 4 screwed upon the projecting end of the stud 2 andfurther by a metal loop 5 rigidly secured on the end of the perforatedpart and loosely engaging the other part of the bar. A curved or bowedstrip 6, of resilient metal, is fastened at its center to the bar 1 ashort distance from its lower end. The arms of said bowed strip areresilient whereby they may be bent to conform to the nose of the animal.It will be seen that said bowed piece, when engaged with the animalsnose, will retain the longitudinal bar 1 in the center of the animalsface. Also secured to the bar 1, below the bowed strip 6, is a closedband 7 preferably made of elastic. This band extends below the animalsjaw and holds the bar 1 down firmly in place. As illustrated, the bowedstrip 6 and band 7 are secured to the bar 1 by means of a bolt 8 and nut9 but any other suitable fastening means may be used, if preferred. Theupper end of the bar 1 is bent, as at 10, to conform to the top of theanimals head. At each side of the bend 11, that is on the bent portionand upon the main portion of the bar 1, there is a clamp 12 secured tothe bar by a bolt 13 and nut 14. Each of said clamps is formed toreceive one of the arms 15 of each of the brackets 16 which have rings17 adapted to fit over the ears or horns of the animal. It will beunderstood that each of said brackets 16 has two arms 15, one extendingbelow each of the clamps 12. Said arms extend transversely to the bar 1and are adapted to be moved laterally with respect to said arm, when theclamps are loosened, for adjusting the brackets to fit the width of theanimals head. A strap 18 is secured to the upper port-ion of the bar 1,preferably at the bend 11 and is adapted to be fastened around theanimals neck as a further precaution for holding the muzzle in place.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, a weaner plate 19 is pivotally hung from thelower end of the longitudinal bar 1 by means of a peculiarly shapedhinge which permits the plate to swing upward a limited distance butprevents the animal from throwing said plate upward beyond the pointwhere it will drop again by gravity. This hinge as here shown, consistsof a looped strip 19 having its arms 20 passed through perforations 21in the end of the bar 1 and then bent upward through suitableperforations 22 in the plate, with their ends terminating adjacent tothe eX- tremity of said bar. The loop proper of the strip 19 is arrangedabove the bar 1, and the bent arms thereof form eyes of substantiallyequal diameter to the width of the edge of the weaner plate, from theperforations therein upward, which is engaged by' said eyes. By reasonof this construction, the upward movement of the plate is limited by itscoming in contact with the extremity of the longitudinal bar, beforesaid plate has been raised far enough to prevent its automatic return bygravity.

I claim:

1. In a muzzle of the character described,

the combination, with an adjustable longiform to the top of an animalshead, of

brackets having rings adapted to engage the ears or horns of the animal,each of said brackets having two adjusting arms extending transverselyto the bar, clamps on said bar at either side of the bend therein, oneof the arms on each of said brackets being secured by each ofsaidclamps, and a weaner on the lower end of said bar.

3. In a muzzle of the character described, the combination, with alongitudinal adjustable bar having its upper ends bent to conform to thetop of an animals head, of brackets having rings adapted to engage theears or horns of the animal, each of said brackets having two adjustingarms extending transversely to the bar, clamps on said bar at eitherside of the bend therein, one of the arms on each of said brackets beingsecured by each of said clamps, a strap secured to the bar at the bendtherein and adapted to be fastened around the animals neck, and a weaneron the lower end of said bar.

4:. In a muzzle of the character described, the combination, with alongitudinal bar and means to fasten it to an animals head, of a weanerhung from the lower end of said bar by a hinge which permits said weanerto swing upward to a limited extent but prevents it moving upward beyondthe point where it would be automatically returned by gravity, saidhinge comprising a looped strip attached to the bar and having its armsbent into the form of eyes engaging the weaner.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

' BENJAMIN P. MERRY. l/Vitnesses:

FRED MERRY,

O. T. CAULKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

